Scarring After Incision Surgery
Whenever surgery involves an incision, scarring cannot be avoided completely. Even when the same technique, the same materials and the same suture method are used, the final scar differs from person to person.
The scar shown here is a good example of a typical, well-healed post-surgical scar. Scars normally fade and flatten over time — but how far they fade depends heavily on how the wound is cared for during the first few months.
The images above show scars that did not heal as well as they could have. After your sutures are removed, Evita Clinic recommends continuing Steri-Strips for an extended period — at least two months — to keep tension off the healing skin.
Below, Dr. Francis Jeon explains what Steri-Strips are, why two months matters, and exactly how to apply them.
Written by Dr. Francis Jeon, MD, board-certified thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, Evita Clinic, Seoul. Last updated: July 2026.
Key Points
- How long: Keep Steri-Strips on your chest for about two months after gynecomastia surgery — not the conventional 5–7 days.
- Why: A scar reaches only a fraction of normal skin strength by the time sutures come out, and stays mechanically fragile for two to three months.
- The risk: Tension during that window causes hypertrophic scars (raised and thickened) or stretched scars (widened into a pale band). Both are permanent; both are largely preventable.
- Why the chest specifically: The chest — along with the shoulders, neck, upper back, elbows and knees — is a high-tension area. A gynecomastia incision is pulled every time you raise an arm or contract the pectoral muscle.
- Replacement: Change the strips every 5–7 days, or when they loosen. Do not change them daily.
The Use of Steri-Strips After Gynecomastia Surgery
Although scarring is a normal part of healing, thoughtful post-operative care can reduce how visible that scar becomes. Evita Clinic uses Steri-Strips to protect the incision and keep tension off the healing skin. Below we explain what they are, why they are used, how long to keep them on, and how to apply them correctly.
1. What Are Steri-Strips?
Steri-Strips are narrow, medical-grade adhesive tapes that hold the edges of a surgical incision together after the sutures have been removed. They adhere far more strongly than an ordinary bandage, and their porous backing lets the wound breathe.
A supplement to sutures, not a replacement
Sutures or staples provide the primary closure immediately after surgery. Steri-Strips are applied after suture removal — and sometimes alongside sutures — to keep supporting the wound and to take mechanical tension off the healing skin.
Evita Clinic prescribes 3M Steri-Strips, 4 inches (10 cm) long, which are cut into shorter segments before use.
2. Why Are Steri-Strips Used After Gynecomastia Surgery?
Steri-Strips are used after gynecomastia surgery for three reasons: they hold securely while still flexing with body movement, they allow the wound to breathe, and — most importantly — they stabilize the wound edges so the scar cannot widen.
- Strong hold, with flexibility
They grip better than ordinary medical tape while still flexing with normal body movement, so the incision is not stressed every time you move. - Breathable
The porous backing allows air circulation, which supports a healthier healing environment than an occlusive tape. - They limit scar widening
By stabilizing the wound edges, Steri-Strips prevent the scar from stretching wider than it needs to. This is the single most important factor in whether a chest scar ends up as a thin line or a broad band.
3. Why Two Months? Tension, Hypertrophic Scars, and Scar Widening
Most patients are told to keep Steri-Strips on for five to seven days after suture removal. Evita Clinic asks for considerably longer — approximately two months — because that is how long a chest scar stays vulnerable to mechanical tension. Here is the reasoning.
A fresh scar is weak for far longer than it looks
Skin closure is not the same as skin strength. At the time sutures come out, the wound has only a small fraction of the tensile strength of normal skin. Strength then builds gradually as collagen is deposited and remodeled, and it does not approach a durable level until roughly two to three months after surgery.
This creates a gap: the incision looks closed at two weeks, but mechanically it is still fragile. Steri-Strips are there to cover that gap.
Tension is what turns a good scar into a bad one
During this same period the scar is at its most reactive. Sustained mechanical tension on the wound edges keeps the fibroblasts within the scar activated, and they respond by laying down excess collagen. Depending on how the pull is applied, the result goes one of two ways.
| Scar type | What it looks like | What causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertrophic scar | Raised, thickened, red and firm — but stays within the original incision line | Sustained tension driving excess collagen deposition |
| Stretched (widened) scar | A fine line spreads into a wide, pale, flat band | Wound edges pulled apart before the scar gains strength |
Both are largely preventable, and both are driven by the same thing: tension during the first months of healing. Steri-Strips work by transferring that tension from the delicate wound edges to the surrounding intact skin.
The chest is one of the worst areas for tension
Scars do not behave the same way everywhere on the body. Certain regions are known for tension-related scarring, and the chest is at the top of that list — along with the shoulders, the neck, the upper back, and joints such as the elbows and knees. What these areas share is constant motion and constant pull on the skin.
A gynecomastia incision sits squarely in this zone. Every time you raise your arm, reach forward, pull a shirt over your head or contract the pectoral muscle, the skin over the chest moves and the scar is loaded. Add to that the fact that male chest skin is relatively thick and under baseline tension, and the incision is being tugged dozens of times a day — usually without you noticing.
This is exactly why a scar on the abdomen may settle beautifully while the same technique on the chest produces a thickened line. It is not the surgery that differs. It is the mechanical environment.
What two months of taping accomplishes
Keeping Steri-Strips on through this window means the scar spends its most vulnerable phase mechanically supported and offloaded. The result is a narrower, flatter, paler scar — and a much lower chance of hypertrophic scarring.
Two months of taping is a small inconvenience. A widened or raised chest scar is permanent, and revising one is far harder than preventing it.
4. How Long to Keep Steri-Strips On
Sutures are removed 7–14 days after gynecomastia surgery. Steri-Strips are then applied and kept in place for approximately two months, with a fresh set every 5–7 days.
The timeline
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Suture removal | 7–14 days after surgery |
| Steri-Strips applied | Immediately after suture removal |
| Replace with a fresh set | Every 5–7 days, or when they loosen |
| Stop taping | Approximately 2 months |
The exact timing depends on your surgeon’s assessment and how quickly you heal. Evita Clinic will guide you on the right time for suture removal and how long to extend Steri-Strip use, based on your individual healing.
Note for international patients: if you have already traveled home after surgery, send us photos of your incision. We can advise whether it is safe to remove your sutures and how to continue with Steri-Strips.
Replacing them
Steri-Strips are not meant to be changed daily. Leave them in place until they loosen or become worn — typically every 5–7 days — then replace them with a fresh set.
When an edge starts to lift
Do not pull a lifting strip off. Apply a fresh Steri-Strip over the loose section, in the same direction, for added support.
When to remove one immediately
If you see moisture or blood underneath a strip, or if the wound looks open, remove that strip right away. Take a photo and send it to us — Dr. Francis Jeon will review the wound and advise you on what to do next.
5. How to Remove Steri-Strips Safely
Soften the adhesive with warm water first, then peel each strip away slowly and parallel to the skin. Removing a Steri-Strip too quickly or too forcefully can lift newly formed skin and set healing back.
- Soften the adhesive first
Wet the area with warm water or mild soap to loosen the glue. - Go slowly
Peel the strip away gradually, flat against the skin rather than straight up, so you do not lift new skin or scabs with it.
6. Additional Wound Care After Gynecomastia Surgery
- Check your incision daily
Watch for redness, swelling, increasing pain, bleeding or unusual discharge, and contact us if anything concerns you. - Keep it clean and dry
After showering, pat the incision dry and apply any antiseptic or ointment we have recommended. - Avoid strenuous activity
No heavy lifting or intense exercise until cleared. Sudden or forceful movement is precisely the tension the Steri-Strips are there to prevent. - Protect the scar from sun
A healing scar pigments easily. Keep it covered, or use sunscreen once the wound is fully closed. - Attend your follow-ups
Regular review lets us track your healing and address problems early, while they are still easy to correct.
7. How to Apply Steri-Strips: A Step-by-Step Photo Guide
Cut each 4-inch Steri-Strip into roughly one-inch segments and apply them perpendicular to the incision, spaced slightly apart. Two or three strips per side are enough for a gynecomastia incision.
Step 1. Steri-Strips by 3M, prescribed at our clinic after gynecomastia surgery.
Step 2. Wash your hands and open the packaging once they are dry.
Step 3. The Steri-Strip we prescribe is 4 inches (10 cm) long.
Step 4. First, cut it in half with clean scissors.
Step 5. Cut it in half again.
Step 6. One inch per piece is enough.
Step 7. Peel off the paper backing so you can lift the strips one by one.
Step 8. Use tweezers or a clean hand to apply each strip perpendicular to the incision.
Step 9. The wound needs to breathe, so space the strips apart — do not overlap them.
Step 10. For a gynecomastia incision, two or three strips per side are sufficient.
Step 11. Press down with your palm for a few seconds so the strips adhere firmly.
Steri-Strips are not designed for daily replacement. Leave them on until they naturally loosen or become worn, then replace them with a fresh set — and keep going for about two months.
If you notice moisture or blood under a strip, or if the wound appears open, remove that strip right away. Take a photo and send it to us at Evita Clinic. Dr. Francis Jeon will review the wound and advise you on the best course of treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Your Recovery?
Leave the strips in place until they loosen or wear, then replace them — and keep going for about two months. If at any point you notice moisture, blood or an open wound beneath a strip, remove it and send us a photo. Dr. Francis Jeon will review it and advise you directly.
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